News analysis: 7-0 against Gibraltar follows a change of generations in Germany' s goal

After the summer break, Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) will be well advised to avoid making any mistakes. When the 29-year old goalkeeper returns from vacation things in the German national team will have changed.

German national coach Joachim Loew left no doubt there will soon be a change of generations as far as goalies in the German national team are concerned.

Neuer will not lose his number one status but his "new" rivals have a few things in common: They are young, top-class and, despite their young age, experienced. Meaning: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (23/FC Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (24/Eintracht Frankfurt), Bernd Leno (23/Bayer Leverkusen), Timo Horn (22/FC Cologne) and Ron-Robert Zieler (26/Hannover 96) will be breathing down his neck.

But before the youngsters crash the party it was time to say good-bye to an "old" fellow. When Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund) this Saturday went on the pitch in Faro (Portugal) to win his fifth international cap for the German national team, the 34-year old goalkeeper was aware that the Euro qualifier against Gibraltar (7-0) would most likely be his last match for his country.

German coach Joachim Loew made it clear: "The future belongs to the young keepers. No doubt there will be changes between the posts."

After all, Weidenfeller was a part of the 2014 World Cup team, made 345 league appearances and played in the 2013 Champions League final. A class act as a goalkeeper, his time seems to be up for Germany.

Weidenfeller might have an advantage as regards his experience but he has been overtaken by youngsters like Ter Stegen (the youngest German keeper to win the Champions League/2015 with FC Barcelona), Trapp, Leno (32 Champions League games), Zieler and Horn. An insight into who will be the German goalkeeper of the future can be had by reading the names of the German "Under 21" squad for the 2015 European Championship this summer: Ter Stegen, Leno, Horn.

Kevin Trapp was on the German A-team sheet in Faro as number three "to let him know we have him in mind" (Loew).

The German youngsters stand for a new type of goalkeeping game, following their "idol" Manuel Neuer.

Neuer, who was named 2014 World Goalkeeper of the Year, is said to have revolutionized the modern game as he is often more like an eleventh field player. Meaning: Neuer's game is risky as he is often playing far up in the field to support his defense.

Loew is considering carrying out tactical changes for his team, if opportune. He wants play with a three man defense, which requires a more risky (and modern) game style for goalkeepers.

For years now goalkeepers have seemed to be like good wine: The older the better. Now it is: The younger the better. The job profile for German keepers changed in as far back as the 2006 World Cup. Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich) was replaced by Jens Lehmann (Arsenal) because his games was regarded by former German coach Juergen Klinsmann and his assistant Joachim Loew as to be more modern.

Lehmann was regarded as a "playing" goalie who can be not only last man standing but an additional defender if necessary.

As far as goalkeeper schooling in Germany goes, it is not enough anymore to be like a wall on the line. In modern football times, statistics are not only fed with passes and assists but with heat maps of goalkeepers showing the ball contacts far off the goal line.

So even former Dutch international Ruud Gullit, a brilliant midfielder and striker, might have to change his mind as he said years ago: "A goalkeeper is a goalkeeper because he can't kick the ball properly." Today goalkeepers like Neuer, Ter Stegen, Leno, Trapp, Zieler and Horn are "play makers" too, running many kilometers in a game.

At the 2014 World Cup the best goalies ran between five and seven kilometers. In Germany's game against Algeria (2-1/last 16), Neuer played 42 passes, and most reached the intended target.

Against underdog Gibraltar, Loew gave Neuer a break but still played with a three man back line and an "old" keeper (Weidenfeller). Both defenders (Sebastian Rudy/TSG Hoffenheim/right flank) and Jonas Hector (1. FC Cologne/left) were supposed to support the team's forays in the opponents half.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) played behind a midfield row of four of Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen), Guendogan (Borussia Dortmund), Mesut Oezil (Arsenal) and Patrick Herrmann (Borussia Moenchengladbach). German strikers were Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich) and Schuerrle (VfL Wolfsburg).

Loew's intention is to score as many goals as possible in addition to three points on the road to France 2016. His plan worked well in Faro against Gibraltar, but only in the second half after weak first 45 minutes (Schweinsteiger missed a penalty).

And Germany's "aged" Roman Weidenfeller did a good job in the German goal and kept his sheets clean.

"We were not decisive enough in the first half and my penalty was a bad one," Schweinsteiger said. "We did better in the second half. 7-0 is a result we can live with." Endi